Stanford University has an institutional commitment to providing equal educational opportunities for qualified students with disabilities in accordance with state and federal laws and regulations, including the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and 2008, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.  Equal access for students with disabilities includes the provision of reasonable accommodations such as auxiliary aids and services.  Each student is entitled to an individualized, interactive process with the School of Medicine’s Disability Resources Professional. Accommodations aim to address specific, documented functional limitations, remove or mitigate barriers to access, and ensure that disabled students are not excluded from learning opportunities available to their nondisabled peers. 

Medical students who need academic accommodations based on the impact of their disability must initiate a request with the Office of Disability Resources. The Director will evaluate requests through a review of medical documentation and interview. Once accommodations have been identified and determined necessary for equal access, the Director will prepare an Accommodation Letter addressed to faculty and teaching teams. Accommodation Letters are dated and include a period of validity (typically the duration of current academic year unless the disability is temporary).  Students must distribute Accommodation Letters to course directors, managers, coordinators, and instructors as early as possible, as timely notice is required to make individualized academic adjustments. 

Student Responsibilities

Stanford welcomes learners with disabilities and values the unique experiences of clinicians with lived experience in healthcare spaces. Students experiencing physical or mental health conditions that impact any learning activity are invited to come forward to disclose and discuss access needs with our designated disability resources professional. The Office of Disability Resources maintains confidential records and provides personalized guidance in addition to facilitating accommodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities and its Amendments Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

The School of Medicine recommends coming forward to disclose, discuss, and request accommodations as soon as a need for support is known. Accommodations require advanced notice and engaging in the interactive process is one of many ways learners are encouraged to exemplify the professionalism principles of honesty, integrity, accountability, and excellence in communication and team membership.

Each student bears the responsibility of initiating any accommodation request in a timely manner, at least 2-4 weeks before any written exam or 4-8 weeks before any clinical rotation. The School does not grant retroactive accommodations.

• As early as possible, register with Disability Resources and submit documentation of disability as a prerequisite to receiving accommodations.
• Notify Disability Resources immediately if an accommodation is not being provided correctly.
• Notify the Disability Resources immediately when discontinuing an accommodation or if the functional limitations for which you are receiving accommodations have resolved. 
• Provide timely notification to faculty of approved accommodations by submitting the Accommodation Letter.
• Provide and arrange for personal disability-related needs or services such as personal care attendants, transportation off campus, housekeeping, golf cart rental, wheelchair repair, etc.
• Meet the same standards (academic, technical, performance and behavior) expected of all Stanford students.

Faculty Responsibilities

• Notify students that accommodations are available.
• Refer Students with Questions about Accommodations to Disability Resources.
• Maintain student confidentiality and treat all disability-related information as confidential.
• Although faculty do not have the right to ask about the nature of the disability, if students choose to disclose their disability, this information should be treated confidentially.
• Refrain from identifying the student with a disability in class or openly discussing accommodations or disability issues in front of others.
• Meet privately with a student when presented with and reviewing the Accommodation Letter.
• Do not seek to arrange accommodations by yourself with the student.
• Protect Student Privacy and Confidentiality

• Collaborate with Student and Director of Disability Resources in arranging and implementing accommodations, as needed.
• Consult with the Director of Disability Resources if the academic accommodation(s) appear to compromise the essential elements or fundamental requirements of the course.  the goals or requirements of the course. Reasonability is determined in collaboration based on a review of student learning outcomes, pedagogical methods, and other essential elements of a course. 
• Welcome the use of approved accommodations and commit to upholding the civil rights of otherwise qualified students with disabilities. 

updated August 2025